 "Authorities revealed that he had previously stolen between $2,800 and $4,200 each from two other families who had recently held weddings.")
A Chinese man has been arrested in Jiangxi province, eastern China , for stealing $53,000 in wedding gift cash from a family shortly after their celebration, which he found through videos shared on social media. The suspect, identified by his surname Peng, was detained on October 2 at his home, according to the South China Morning Post.
Police said Peng discovered the victim, also surnamed Peng, after browsing Douyin, China’s version of TikTok, for nearby wedding videos. He came across a clip from September 29, in which a guest mentioned “Boss Peng at Tieshan.” Using this detail, he traced the family’s location through a map application and identified their address in Tieshan village.
That same night, Peng disguised himself with a wig, travelled to the village, broke into the house, and stole all the wedding cash stored in a box.
Police trace thief through CCTV footage
The victim reported the theft the following morning after realising that over $53,000, had been taken. The money included guests’ cash gifts, the daughter-in-law’s dowry, and a welcome gift from the family. Initially, the family suspected a guest might have been responsible.
Investigators interviewed neighbours and examined surveillance footage, which showed Peng leaving the area at 4am carrying a suitcase. By tracking further camera footage, officers traced his vehicle to his home, where he was found hiding. The stolen cash was later discovered inside his wife’s shop.
Peng confessed to the theft, admitting that he was heavily in debt due to gambling. He told police he targeted families hosting weddings because they often keep cash at home temporarily before securing it.
Authorities revealed that Peng had previously stolen between $2,800 and $4,200 each from two other families who had recently held weddings. He believed such victims were unlikely to report thefts, fearing family discord or embarrassment if relatives were suspected.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsIn rural Jiangxi, wedding gift money often ranges between 20,000 and 30,000 yuan, depending on the closeness of the guests to the newlyweds. Peng remains in police custody.